Machine for making flanged insoles.



F. w. MERRICK. MACHINE FOR MAKING FLANGED INSOLES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1'0. 1912'- v Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

2 SHEET'SSHEET 1.

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F. w. MERRICK. V MACHINE FOR MAKING FLANGED INSOLES.

APPLICATION FILED'APR. 10, I912.

- Patented'Mar. 14, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 60., WASHINGTON, D. c.

rr sir.

FRANK w. MERRICK, or Bos'rou, MASSACHUSETTS, assren'on' To Un on L ooK swim: COMPANY, or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION or MAINE.

Specification of Letters ZPatent';

Patented. Mar. 1a, was

Application filed April 10, 1912. Serial No. 689,733.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, FRANK 7. MERRICK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bostrn, in the county of Suffolk, State of ll lassachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Machines for Making Flanged Insoles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention has for its object to facilitate the manufacture of insoles having the entire margin of the same upstanding in the form of a flange extending around the insole or the greater part of the same.

It consists in mechanical instrumentalities for bending the said margin to produce the said flange.

The general object of the invention is to provide mechanism for doing this work economically and effectively, and which will permit of the employment at will of patterns, forms, or templets of various shapes and sizes without necessitating adjustments of the mechanism. The said instrumentalities embody a novel method of bending the margin of a blank by means of flexibly mounted resser-devices which are governed as to the path of their action by an irregularly-shaped pattern, form, or templet.

The essentials of the invention are pattern-control of the bending, and relative movement of the bending or presser-devices and pattern-surfaces with relation to each other.

The form of embodiment of the principles of the invention may vary in practice. In the preferred mode of embodiment the blank of leather or other material to be operated on is held between two surfaces, one of which is the pattern or may have the pattern formed in connection therewith. and the bending or presser-devices actupon the margin of the blank around the edge of the latter surface. The bending is performed in fixed relation to the pattern; 2'. 6., the path of the bending action is governed by the pattern.

An embrdiment of the invention is shown in the drawings, in which latter Figure 1 shows in side elevation, partly in vertical section, a machine containing the said embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the upper portion of the said machine. Figs. 3 and i are plan views showing the working parts in different positions, the top of the movable carriage being partly broken away in Fig. 4. F ig. 5 is a partial plan view on an enlargedv scale, the top of the carriage being partly broken away.

Having reference to the drawings,the machine-frame is marked 1, and 2 is a table that is supported upon the top of such frame. A movable carriage 3 is mounted in connection with the said table, with capacity to travel back and forth. This carriage is utilized for the actuation of the fianging devices, and movement is communicatedto it through traversing mechanism with which it is connected. The character and construction of'the latter mechanism are not material. The drawings show, in this instance, the carriage connected by a link 4, Fig. l, to the upper end of an upright arm or lever 5 which is pivotally mounted by its foot at 6 upon the frame 1. The said lever is connected by a second link 7 to a crank 8 upon a shaft 9, which is geared by spur-gear-wheels 10 and 11 to the driving shaft 12 provided with a bandpulley 13 for the reception of a drivingband, by means of which power is transmitted to the machine to actuate the latter.

The fianging devices which are op erated byfmeans of carriage 3 are designed to act upon the marginal portion of a sole-blank]; lying upon a support in the path ofsuch devices. The said support is constituted in the present instance, for convenience, by a portion of the table 2 at the left-hand side thereof in the drawings. The sole-blank to be operated upon is laid upon the upper surface of the said portion ofthe said table. The form, pattern, or templet is applied in connection with the sole-blank for theflanging operation, to coiiperate with the flanginq devices as the latter act upon the marginal portion of the blank. A suitable form orpattern of sheet-material, which may be metal,.is shown at-b, resting. upon the top surface of the blank a. Provision is made for holding the form or pattern in place upon the sole-blank, and both of them in position upon the surface of the table, while the margin of the blank is being operated upon by the fianging devices during the fianging operation. A clamp of character suitable for the purpose is shown in Fig. 1, it comprising a clamping lever 14, which is pivotally mounted at 15 upon a bracket 16 which is fixedly attached to the left-hand end of the table. This clamping lever has a Working portion or arm adapted to act in holding the former pattern Z) in place, and an operating handle extending above the fixed supporting arm 16.

In the use of the machine, after the blank a has been laid in position upon the surface of the'table 2, the form or pattern b is placed thereon. In this instance the form or pattern Z) is quite thin, to facilitate the bending of the margin of the blank a around the edge of the form or pattern in producing the upturned flange on such blank. I therefore show the employment of a stiff backing or reinforcing bar 0 which is laid upon or secured to the upper surface of the form or pattern. To clamp the form or pattern in place, the lever 14: is turned upon its pivot 15 which in this instance is accomplished by hand, to cause its working portion or arm to press upon the upper surface of the backing or reinforcing bar, or

upon that of the form or pattern if the said I face 0 bar is not employed. \Vhen the lever 11 has been given the locking position shown in Fig. 1, with the said working portion or arm occupying a vertical position between the fixed arm 16 and the table 2, it operates to hold the form or pattern b firmly in place, aressing the blank a against the surthe table 2.

The flanging devices comprise in the illustrated embodiment of the invention flangeraisers, fiange-benders including fiange-upsetters and fiange-crimpers, and flangewipers, all of which are actuated through the movement of the carriage 3. The character and construction of these devices, and the mode and means of actuating the same, may vary more or less without involving departure from the invention. In the present embodiment of the invention, as shown in the drawings, the flange-raisers include plow-share-like devices 17, 17, for lifting the flange at the sides of the blank into position to be engaged and operated upon by the flange-benders. and flange-lifting fingers 19,19, etc., for lifting the flange at an end of the blank to facilitate the action of the flange-wipers thereon; the flangebenders comprise a pair of cylindrical flange-upsetting rolls 17, 17, and a pair of flangecrimping rolls 18, 18, having cylindrical upper and lower portions which are larger at the top than at the bottom and with a tapering intermediate shoulder; and the flange-wipers comprise a pair of swinging arms 20, 20. r

The flange-raisers 17, 17, and flange-upsetting rolls 17, 17 are carried by the free extremities of arms 17*, 17, which are disposed opposite to each other, with their rear ends located beneath the top bar of the carriage 3, and pivotally connected with the said top bar by means of pivots 17 17 The arms 17*, 17, are arranged to swing oppositely toward and from each other so as to enable the fiange-raisers 17,17, and fiangeupsetting rolls 17 17 to approach and recede from each other in the operation of the machine. They are connected with each other by means of a contracting spiral spring 17 tending to cause them to swing toward each other, the limit of their mutual approach being fixed by stop-pins 17, 17,

projecting downward from the top bar of.

the carriageB and entering slots 17 17, in the arms 17, 17 7 The flange-crimping rolls 18, 18, are carried, respectively, by the free extremities of arms 18*, 18 which are disposed opposite to each other, with their rear ends located beneath the top bar of the carriage 3 and pivotally connected with the said top bar by pivot-pins 18 18 The arms ls 18, are movable oppositely toward and from each other to enable the flange-crimping rolls 18, 18, to approach each other and also sepathereof has a lip 19*. Fig. 1, which projects.

forwardly from the top of its working end.

The lifter-fingers are independently movable lengthwise thereof in the second carriage 21, each bemg backed up by an expanding spiral spring 19", surrounding a pin 19 which projects from the presserpiece and enters a hole drilled in the rear part of the carriage 21 as shown in Figs. 1 and 1. The springs 19 act with a tendency to press the lifter-fingers forward, the limit of their movement under the action of the springs being determined by a transverse pin 19 carried by the carriage 21 and passing through slots 19 in the respective resser-pieces.

The carriage 21 is engaged with the carriage 3, to cause it to accompany the latter in its forward movement, namely toward the left in the drawings, by means of a pivoted dog 21 Figs. 1 and 1, mounted on a supporting-pin 22 in the carriage 21 and having connected therewith a contracting spiral spring 23 which operates with a tendency to hold a projection on the dog 21 upturned and in engagement with the front edge of a cross-bar 3 on the carriage 3. In the forward movement of the carriage 3 the said edge of the said cross-bar 3 engages with the upstanding portion of the dog 21, and operates through such engagement to move the carriage 21 in the same direction. The return movement of carriage 21 is cccasioned during the return movement of carriage 3 by the engagement of the rear edge of the cross-bar 8 of carriage 3 with an upstanding piece 24: upon the rear end of carrings 21.

The wipers 20, 20, are constituted by, curved levers which are disposed opposite each other. They are pivotally mounted upon a pivotal-screw 20, Fig. 1, at the under side of the top of carriage 3, and are oppositely movable toward and from each other upon the said pivotal mounting. In the movement of carriage 3 rearward, i. 6., toward the right in the drawings, the wipers are operated to move their working portions away from each other, into the relative position occupied by them in Figs. 2 and 5, by means of the converging sidewalls 20 20", of a notch in the forward ed e of a stationary cross-bar 1 which is fixedlv located adjacent the rear end of table 2. The said converging side-walls constitute cam-surfaces against which the movement of carriage 3 rearward carries the rolls 20 20, mounted upon the rearwardlyextending arms of the wipers. As the rolls pass in between the converging walls 20*, 20', the said rearwardly-extending arms are pressed toward each other, whereby the wipers are turned oppositely with reference to each other upon their pivot 20, spreading their working ends apart. Movement of the working arms of the wipers toward each other, which is a part of the working movement of the wiper-arms, is occasioned in the stroke of the carriage 3 forward, 2'. 6., toward the left in the drawings, bv means of fixed cam-pieces 20 20 upon table 2. The said cam-pieces 20 20, have inclined camsurfaces, converging toward each other, against which rolls 20 20, mounted in the working arms of the wipers are carried by the forward movement of the carriage. As the said rolls engage with the said cam-surfaces of cam-pieces 20", 20, the working portions of the wipers are caused to move toward each other, as in Fig. 4. The campieces 20 20 are mounted adjustably to enable the position and inclination of the acting faces of the cam-pieces to be varied, and thereby the path and time of movement of the rolls 20 20 to be varied to suit variations in the length, width, and general shape of the pattern. In the present instance the cam-pieces 20 20 are held to table 2 by means of screws 20*, 20, the stems of which occupy large holes in the cam-pieces. These holes being larger in diameter than the said stems, the cam-pieces may be shifted about as required with relation to the screws, and then are clamped securely in position between the heads of the screws and the surface of the table.

In operation, the carriages being at the starting point represented in Figs. 1 and 2, with the dog 21 in the engaging position occupied by it in Fig. 1, the movement of carriage 3 toward the left causes its crossbar 3 to engage the upstanding portion of dog 21, and through such engagement carriage 21 is caused to accompany carriage 3. In this movement of the carriages the reduced leading ends of the flange-lifters 17, 17, pass under the margin of the blank a at opposite sides of the rear end of such blank, raising the said margin. The cylindrical upsetting rolls 17*, 17, following close behind the flange-lifters engage with the margin of the blank adjacent the rear end of the form or pattern b, and bend the opposite portions of such margin upward around the edge of the form or pattern, thereby upsetting the said portions of the margin. The contracting spring 17 causes the rolls 17, 1?, to press the upset flange of the blank a firmly against the edge of the form or pattern, and yields to allow the said rolls to separate as they pass along a wider portion of the form or pattern. It also draws the rolls closer together as the rolls pass to a narrower portion of the form or pattern. The carrying arms 17, 17, being independently movable toward and from each other, each of the respective rolls 17 17 is free to follow the varying contour of the particular side of the form or pattern with which it cooperates. Thus the flange is uniformly upset at each side of the form or pattern.

The crimping rolls 18, 18, following closelv after the upsetting rolls act. by their shoulders, to press the upturned flange inward, bending it down around the edge of the form or pattern. The rolls 18, 18. bend down the flange close to the upper surface of the form or pattern. so as to effectually break the fiber of the blank at the line of the bend, and lessen or obviate the tendency of the flange to bend back again as the blank dries in the case of leather blanks, these last being operated upon while in temper, z. 6., wet. In following and conforming to the contour of the edge of the form or pattern along opposite sides of the same, their general action is similar to that of the upsetting rolls.

The lips 19 of the lifter-fingers are carried by the movement of the carriage against the portion of the margin of the blank at the rear end of the form or pattern which is unacted upon by the upsetting and crimping rolls. The said lips lift or raise the said portion of the margin, which lies down even more firmly after the upsetting and crimping of the side-portions of the margin than before. Thereby the under side of the margin of the blank at the rear end of the latter is presented to the action of the wipers. Being individually movable relative to one another in carriage 21, and respectively spring-backed, the lifter-fingers are capable of adapting themselves to the contour of the end of the form or pattern.

When the resistance ,to the forward movement of carriage 21 exceeds the tension of the spring 23, Fig. 1, the said spring yields so as to allow the dog 21 to turn upon its pivotal support 22 on carriage 21, the said carriage standing in place while carriage 3 continues its advance, and the cross-bar 3 being moved into a position over the dog. This part of the movement of carriage 3 causes the wipers 20, 20, to act upon the upset and crimped flange of the blank to press and iron down such flange around the edge of the form or pattern. This function is performed in consequence of the said continued advance of carriage 3 and the wipers, and also in consequence of the engagement of the rolls 20 20 which are carried by the working arms of the wipers, with the fixed cams 20 20 As a result of such engagement the working portions of the wipers are pressed toward each other in the continued advance of the carriage 3, thereby causing them to pass inward over the flange of the insole, and press such flange down firmly upon the upper side of the form or pattern. The relative positions of the parts at approximately the conclusion of the advance of the carriage 3 are indicated in Fig. 4C.

Preferably, the form or pattern 7) is thin, and its upper surface, at least at and adjacent its edge, is in a plane parallel or approximately parallel with that occupied by the blank (i Through the action of the flange-benders and wipers the margin of the blank is bent from the plane of the blank around the edge of the form or pattern, toward the upper surface of the latter. Thereby the margin of the blank is bent around the edge of the form or pattern at an angle of approximately 180. This is advantageous, in that it most effectually breaks'down the flange so that it will remain in approximately the position given to it, but is not indispensable in all cases. It apparently is best for the flange of the insole to make an acute angle inward with relation to the main surface of the insole.

After being caused to move toward each other by the action of the cams 20 20 the wipers remain in engagement with the wiped-down flange of the blank a while the carriage 3 moves rearward toward the starting position. During such movement the wipers are retracted in their closed-together condition. Thereby tendency to spread the flange open, as by outward separating movement of the wipers before retraction, is avoided. The wipers are grooved lengthwise on their under surfaces so as to prevent the folded-down flange from breaking back again during the retracting movement of the wipers.

In the return stroke of the carriage 3 the rear edge of the cross-bar 3? engages with the piece 24 projecting up at the rear end of the carriage 21 and acts to draw the earriage 20 back to starting position again, as previously explained. During the first part of the return movement of the carriage 3 it moves independently of carriage 21, until the cross-bar 3 has passed rearward from over the dog 21 which latter is then caused by spring 23 to turn so as to raise its upstanding portion in front of the said crossbar again.

lVhat I claim is:

1. In an insole flanging machine, in combination, flange-bending means, and a pattern which determines the line of action of said flange-bending means upon the marginal portion of the insole, the said means and pattern being relatively movable lengthwise of the edge of the pattern in the bending operation, withoutangular change in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the pattern, and the flange-bending being effected through such relative movement.

2. In an insole flanging machine, in combination, flange-bending means, a pattern which determines the line of action of said flange-bending means upon the marginal portion of the insole, antl means for producing relative movement between said bending means and pattern lengthwise of the edge of the pattern in the bending operation without angular change in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the pattern, and the flange-bending being effected through such relative movement.

In an insole flanging machine, in combination, a pattern and an edge-bending device actuated yieldingly to follow the contour of said pattern, and controlled as to the line of action thereof by said pattern, said device and pattern relatively movable lengthwise of the edge of the pattern in the bending operation without angular change in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the pattern, and the flange-bending being effected through such relative movement.

4. In an insole Hanging machine, in combination, a pattern, an edge-bending device, and a swinging spring-actuated carrier therefor. said device movable relatively around the edges of the pattern and following the contour of said pattern without angular change in the direction oi the longitudinal axis of the blank.

5. In an insole Hanging machine, in combination, a pattern, an edge-bending device, a swinging spring-actuated carrier therefor, and means for producing relative movement of said device around the edges of the pattern and the blank without angular change in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the blank. said device following the contour of the pattern.

6. In an insole tlanging machine, in combination, a pattern, and flange-bending means, said pattern and means relatively movable in the plane of the pattern lengthwise of the edge of the pattern without angular change in the direction of the iongitudinal axis of the blank and coacting to bend the margin of an insole-blank over the said pattern to thereby produce an upstanding flange.

7. In an insole flanging machine, in combination, fiangebending means, a pattern, and means producing relative movement between said bending means and pattern lengthwise of the edge of the latter without angular change in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the pattern. and the flangebending being effected through such relative movement to bend the margin of an insoleblank over the said pattern to thereby produce an upstanding flange.

8. In an insole fianging machine, in combination. a pattern. and opposite flange bending devices adapted to cooperate with opposite sides of the pattern and operating to bend opposite margins of a blank to form an upstanding iiange. said pattern and de vices relatively movable lengthwise ot' the pattern.

9. In an insole flanging machine. in combination. a pattern, op osite flange-bending devices adapted to cooperate with opposite portions of the pattern and operating to bend opposite margins of a blank into upstanding tlanges. and means for producing relative movement of said pattern and devices lengthwise of the pattern.

10. In an insole flanging machine. in combination. a pattern, opposite flange-bending devices adapted to cooperate with opposite portions of the pattern and operating to bend opposite margins of a blank into an upstanding flange, and means for pressing said devices with yielding force toward the pattern to cause them to follow the contour of the respective side-portions of the pattern, said pattern and devices movable relatively lengthwise of the pattern.

11. In an insole flanging machine, in combination, a pattern, opposite flange-bending devices adapted to cooperate with opposite portions of the pattern and operating to bend opposite margins of a blank into upstanding flanges, means -for pressing said devices with yielding force toward the pattern to cause them to follow the contour of the respective side-portions of the pattern, and means for producing relative movement of said pattern and devices lengthwise of the pattern.

19.. In a machine for fianging insoles and other articles, the combination with supporting means for the article to be flanged, and a pattern, of flange-upsetting and bend ing means, means for producing relative travel in the direction of the length of the pattern, without angular change in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the pattern, and means for causing the flange-bending means to follow the contour of the edge of the pattern during such travel.

13. In a machine for flanging insoles and other articles, the combination with supporting means for the article to be flanged, and a pattern, of flange-upsetting and bending means at opposite sides of the median line of the article operating to bend along both edges of the article simultaneously, means for producing relative travel in the direction of the length of the pattern, without angular change in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the pattern, and means for causing the flange-bending means to follow the contour of the edge of the pattern during such travel.

1 In a machine for Hanging insoles and other articles, the combination with supporting means for the article to be flanged, and a pattern, of flange-upsetting and bending means at opposite sides of the median line of the article actuated yieldingly to follow the contour of the edge of the pattern and operating to bend opposite margins of the article into upstanding fiangeportions, and means for producing relative travel in the direction of the length of the pattern without angular change in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the pattern.

15. In a machine for fianging ins les and other articles, the combination with supporting means for the article to be flanged, and a pattern. of flange-bending means, means for producing relative travel in the direction of the length of the pattern, without angular change in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the pattern, means for causing the flange-bending means to follow the contour of the pattern during such travel, and Wiper-means acting upon the upset and bent flange to press and iron down the latter. 7

16. In a machine for flanging insoles and other articles, the combination With supporting means for the article to be flanged, and a pattern, of flangebending means, means for producing relative travel in the direction of the length of the pattern, means for causing the flange-bending means to follow the contour of the pattern during such travel, means to lift or raise the margin of the blank at the end of the pattern, and Wipers which act upon the raised margin to complete the bending of the same and iron it down.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK W. MERRICK. Witnesses:

GEORGE H. LITTLEFIELD, CHAS. F. RANDALL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissionerof Patents, Washington, D. C. 

